The Opening Guide

22 Jun 2023740 viewsEnglish (US)

In an earlier blog (The Opening Anthology), I wrote a guide which read like a CYOA . However, admittedly, its length was intimidating - especially to beginners. Instead, enjoy this condensed, rewritten version.

The way that openings differ, is how they follow the '3 Golden Rules' (Control the centre, develop your pieces, and castle your king) - as a consequence, every opening leads to different sorts of positions which favour different play styles. For example, on White's first move, you should either play 1.e4 or 1.d4 in order to control the centre. You want to play both, but you can only choose one - and the one you select can heavily influence the style of the game. While you're reading, note down the openings that appeal to you - they all have their pros and cons...

Now let's choose your own adventure (repertoire)...

1.e4 often leads to open positions with tactical opportunities, aggressive pawn play, and dynamic middlegame battles, favoring aggressive and tactically-minded players.

Whereas

1.d4 often leads to closed positions with strategic maneuvering, pawn structures, and long-term planning, favoring players who prefer positional and strategic play.

If you like the sound of 1.e4, go to Section 1.0
If you like the sound of 1.d4, go to Section 2.0

White

Section 1.0: 1.e4

1.1) How to face 1...e5

After 1.e4, about 60% of players will reply with 1...e5, which stops White from playing 2.d4. There are stylistically, two approaches you can take. Either you can play safe, principled, flexible chess which objectively gives the best chances for the middlegame and endgame. Or you can play a 'gambit' - where you give up a pawn so that you can complete the golden rules faster than your opponent, thereby allowing an early attack on the enemy king. Gambits however, are risky. With less material, you almost garuntee a worse endgame - meaning if you don't checkmate your opponent early, you will probably lose. If you want to maximise your opening chances at expense to your endgame chances in the hopes that your memory and tactical ability is better than your opponent's, then a gambit like the King's Gambit, Danish Gambit, or Vienna Gambit is for you.

Otherwise, if you're looking for an objectively better, and complete game, you can play 2.Nf3, where about 70% of the time, your opponent will play 2...Nc6. This opening gives you a good position for the middlegame and endgame without risking your safety. This is a flexible approach, because from here, you can choose one of multiple openings that offer a more classical and strategical game. I would say that 1.d4 openings are defensive, and 1.e4 gambits are ultra aggressive. 1.e4 2.Nf3 openings are a balance. If you enjoy this balance, then an opening like the Ruy Lopez, Italian Game, Scotch, or Ponziani are for you.

Here are the pros & cons of each:
King's Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.f4):
Pros: Incredibly sharp with many tactical chances to win at every level.
Cons: Requires an insane amount of theory memorization and calculation ability.
Danish Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3):
Pros: Great bishop pair and piece activity with lots of chances for creative attacks.
Cons: Two pawns down - objectively slightly worse.
Vienna Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4):
Pros: Black's required defence is very unintuitive, with easy attacks for White.
Cons: Black can equalilse fairly easily if they know their opening theory.
Ruy Lopez (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5):
Pros: Multiple long-term attacking ideas with a great middlegame and endgame.
Cons: Black will be well prepared because it's popular. Requires lots of memorization.
Italian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4):
Pros: Can be sharp and dynamic or slow and strategical. Therefore hard to predict.
Cons: Very popular. Hard to find attacking plans and underst resulting positions.
Scotch (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4):
Pros: Flexible, open, dynamic - with lots of attacking oppertunities.
Cons: Symmetrical pawn structures limit early attacks. Complicated dynamics.
Ponziani (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3):
Pros: Relatively unknown. Attains the centre. Laced with traps against natural moves.
Cons: If Black knows theory, they can equalise tactically or positionally.

Hopefully one opening has piqued your interest.
Resources of each can be found at the bottom of this blog in the Resource List.
Now continue below to Section 1.2.

1.2) How to face 1...c5

The 'Sicilian Defence' (1...c5), is the other common reply Black employs against 1.e4, which occurs around 25% of the time. It stops White from playing 2.d4. The Sicilian is a fexible and aggressive opening which aims to trade Black's flank pawn for White's central pawn and create counterattacks. It's very theoretical, and as a result, White's two main options are either to avoid theory with an 'Anti-Sicilian' of some kind, or enter into a theoretical battle with the 'Open Sicilian'.

Open Silians with 2.Nf3 are objectively White's best reply - however, it is also very difficult to play because you are entering a huge theoretical battle against Black. Black can play many different variations which all have huge bodies of theory and different counterattacking ideas you have to be aware of. Luckily, White will always have equally good attacking chances of their own, it's just a matter of learning them.

Otherwise, you can opt for one of many 'Anti-Sicilians', which avoids opening theory and attempts to take Black into lesser-known territory. These openings are objectively worse than the Open Sicilian, but they give great practical chances because it's unlikely that Black understands them all in depth. These Anti-Sicilians include the Alapin, Closed Sicilian, or Smith-Morra Gambit.

Here are the pros & cons of each:
Open Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3):
Pros: Objectively best, sound and deep attacking ideas.
Cons: Ungodly amount of theory, and you'll have to face dynamic counterattacks.
Alapin (1.e4 c5 2.c3):
Pros: Less known, less theory, gains the centre, easy to play.
Cons: Black can equalise if they know theory.
Closed Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.Nc3):
Pros: Flexible with many strategical ideas, safer, and less reliant on theory.
Cons: Can be slower paced and difficult to create significant advantages.
Smith-Morra Gambit (1.e5 c5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3):
Pros: Has many early attacking ideas which Black is less likely to know.
Cons: If Black know their theory, they can equalise fairly easily.

Hopefully one opening has piqued your interest.
Resources of each can be found at the bottom of this blog in the Resource List.
Now skip Section 2.0, and head to Section 3.0 to select Black Openings.

Section 2.0: 1.d4

2.1) How to face 1...d5

After 1.d4, about 60% reply with 1...d5 - stopping White from playing 2.e4. These positions usually result in closed, symmetrical, strategical positions. Both sides will usually engage in long-term piece maneuvering, heavily concerened with pawn structures and endgames. There are two ways you can face 1...d5, the first is with some kind of system. A 'system' is an uncompramising opening where White will set up their pieces in the same way regrardless of what Black plays. Systems are great for understanding the deep positional ideas and tactial motifs of the positions, and they're near garunteed every time you play as White. The drawbacks of these openings is that they're predictable, vulnerable to traps, and have very limited flexibility.
Systems like these include the London System, Colle System, or Jobava London.

Otherwise, you can play the Queen's Gambit with 2.c4. This opening is a lot more flexible, and can lead to a variety of different positions depending on how Black replies. It's one of the most studied and popular openings in chess. Unlike every other gambit in chess, it really give up a pawn, because if Black attempts to hold on to their extra pawn, they're likely to recieve a much worse position. This is how most beginner games go; Black accepts the gambit, then attempts to hold on the pawn and lose. However most players at the higher levels decline the gambit. It is objectively the best move White can play in the position. Lastly, there is a system-like opening of their own that White can play within this opening called the Catalan, which is has many strategical points and ideas, focussed around controlling the centre, and attacking the queenside.

Here are the pros & cons of each:
London System (1.d4 2.Bf4 3.Nf3)
Pros: Familiar strategical ideas, less theory, more targets for both sides.
Cons: Vulnerable to traps, predictable, inflexible, less popular.
Colle System (1.d4 2.Nf3 3.e3)
Pros: Familiar and deep strategical ideas, less theory, very safe.
Cons: Vulnerable to traps, predictable, inflexible.
Jobava London (1.d4 2.Nc3 3.Bf4)
Pros: Familiar tactical and strategical ideas, many traps, less popular.
Cons: Vulnerable to traps, predictable, can be very complicated and unclear.
Queen's Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4)
Pros: Objectively best, flexible, great endgames, deep positional ideas.
Cons: Very popular, lots of theory, harder to learn.
Catalan (1.d4 d5 2.c4 3.g3)
Pros: Long-term attacks, safe king, centre control, endgame-oriented.
Cons: Inflexible, quite popular, quite a bit of theory.

Hopefully one opening has piqued your interest.
Resources of each can be found at the bottom of this blog in the Resource List.
Now continue below to Section 2.2.

2.2) How to face 1...Nf6

The other most popular reply to 1.d4, is 1...Nf6 - again stopping 2.e4 - which occurs about 25% of the time. With this move, Black attempts to create an imbalanced position with potentially aggressive counterattacking chances. Here, there are again, the same options: to play a system, or face lots of theory head-on with the objective best move - controlling the centre. You already understand the possible systems you can employ (from Section 2.1), so I'm only going to focus on the latter, which is the move 2.c4. This move, unlike every other system, prevents Black from playing 2...d5, because of 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.e4 with a superior position for White. Therefore, Black needs to find another way to control the centre, and counterattack White. There are many openings Black can choose from to achieve this, and White will need to have an answer to all of them. These openings include the Kings Indian, Queens Indian, Grunfeld, Nimzo-Indian, Benoni, and Benko Gambit. But 2.c4 is still objectively the best move, because although Black can challenge White in many ways, if White knows their theory, they will have satisfactory defence, and an equal amount of attacking ideas to throw back at Black. These positions are usually more open and dynamic with long-term tactical chances for both sides. It should be noted that if White chooses to, they can transpose back into QGD openings, and play the Catalan as a system regardless.

Here are the pros & cons of 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4:
Pros: Objectively best, felxible, lots of attacking options, great central control.
Cons: Very popular, lots of theory, Black's attacks can be difficult to handle.

Hopefully an opening choice has piqued your interest.
Resources of each can be found at the bottom of this blog in the Resource List.
Now you will need to select Black openings. So continue to Section 3 below.

Black

Section 3: How to face 1.e4

1.e4 is the most popular first move at all levels, occuring around 60% of the time. It's a move that strives for an attacking game with centre control, tactical potential, open positions, sacrifices, and historical success. As a result, Black has developed many ways to face it - but all fall into one of two categrories: either Black can accept the open positions and attacks while simultanously attempting to create attacks of their own, or they can attempt to close up the position, forcing a long strategical battle on White. Both approaches are equally as good. Let's explore the three main options.

3.1) 1...e5

This is a symmetrical move which immediately fights for the centre. It's the commputer's favrourite, and the most popular move. It will often lead to open positions with both sides engaging in deep strategical battles with interwoven tactical oppertunities. However, White now has a variety of openings which the game can lead into, such as the King's Gambit, Danish Gambit, Vienna, Italian, Ruy Lopez, and Scotch. All of these openings are different and require individual understanding. As a consequence, if Black wants to get the objectively clear and best positions with 1...e5 2.Nf3 Nc6, they must commit to enourmous amounts of theory. If memorization is your strong suit though, then 1...e5 is for you.

But there's one other opening within 1...e5 that needs to be mentioned, and that is the Petrov; 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6. This opening cuts out a lot of opening theory for Black - though, they still need to be prepared against the King's Gambit, Danish Gambit, and Vienna. The Petrov is probably the most solid opening in chess - it gives White very little attacking chances, and immediately enters a deep strategical battle concerened with pawn structures and endgames.

Here are the pros and cons of both:
1...e5 Mainlines (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6)
Pros: Objectively best, deep strategical ideas, relatively safe.
Cons: Ungodly amount of theory memorisation.
Petrov (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6)
Pros: Incredibly Solid, terrific pawn structure, very safe.
Cons: Overly symmetrical positions limit winning chances.

Resources for all 1...e5 openings can be found at the bottom of this blog in the Resource List.
If you've fallen in love with 1...e5, then head straight to Section 4.
If you don't feel like 1...e5 is for you though, then continue to Section 3.2.

3.2) 1...c5

The other way to fight directly for the centre, is with the symmetrical 1...c5, 'Sicilian Defence'. With this opening, Black will trade their flank c-pawn for White's central d-pawn, in exchange for the centre. Black hopes to win back the centre over the course of the game through the potential of their central pawns, though. Sicilians are never clear-cut. They often result in wild imbalanced positions with both sides attacking the other's king while simultaneously attempting to defend their own. As Black, this opening risks a lot to fight for a win, but at the top level where it's so hard to win as Black (most games are draws), it makes sense that it's the most played move at the master level. The Sicilian is an incredibly flexible opening that can be played a number of ways through it's many variations, such as: Najdorf, Dargon, Classical, Scheveningen, Accelerated Dragon, Sveshnikov, Taimanov, and Kan.

Here are the pros and cons of each:
Najdorf (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6)
Pros: Objectively best, deep strategical ideas, relatively safe.
Cons: Ungodly amount of theory, leads to very unclear positions.
Dragon (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6)
Pros: Plenty of easy attacking chances to checkmate White, easy set up.
Cons: White can play the Yugoslav Attack.
Classical (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6)
Pros: Flexible, nice pawn breaks, creative middlegames, safe.
Cons: Leads to complicated positions, White can play Richter-Rauzer Attack.
Scheveningen (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6)
Pros: Very flexible, nice pawn structure, dynamic counterplay.
Cons: White can play the Keres Attack.
Accelerated Dragon (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6)
Pros: White's common moves get punished, easy set up and attacks for Black.
Cons: White can play the Maroczy Bind.
Sveshnikov (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5)
Pros: Bishop pair, f5-break, good endgames.
Cons: Have to play around the strong d5-knight.
Taimanov (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6)
Pros: Flexible, dynamic counterplay, creative middlegames.
Cons: Can become too complicated and unclear.
Kan (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6)
Pros: Less theory, strategical tricks, early traps, respectable.
Cons: White can play the Maroczy Bind.

Hopefully an opening choice has piqued your interest.
Resources of each can be found at the bottom of this blog in the Resource List.
If you've fallen in love with 1...c5, then head straight to Section 4.
If you don't feel like 1...c5 is for you though, then continue to Section 3.3.

3.3) 1...Other

Every other way to fight against 1.e4 in one way or another gives White the centre. However, there are many practical reasons Black may choose to play this way. For example, White could overextend their centre, allowing Black to take over. Or, White may not be familiar with Black's opening, and lose strategically or tactically.

The openings that I will suggest are completely sound. They all offer terrific counterattacking chances, and White will not know them as deeply as they know 1...e5 or 1...c5. Though, it should be noted that although they are sound, they are not objectively as good as 1...e5 or 1...c5, and do not have as much historical guidance to learn from. Still, they are likely to take White out of theory relatively quickly, and remember; all of these openings can be incredible if you master them. These openings include: French Defence, Caro-Kann, Scandinavian, Pirc, and Alekhine's Defence.

Here are the pros and cons of each:
French Defence (1.e4 e6)
Pros: Solid, immediate counterattacks, creative middlegames.
Cons: Light-squared bishop is restricted, can lead to closed positions.
Caro-Kann (1.e4 c6)
Pros: Great endgames, pawn structures, and strategical maneuvering.
Cons: Can be cramped and difficult to develop the kingside.
Scandinavian (1.e4 d5)
Pros: Fresh positions with less theory and easy attacks.
Cons: Difficult to play at lower levels, early queen, poor kingside pawn structure.
Pirc (1.e4 d6)
Pros: Flexible, good counterplay, solid.
Cons: Passive pawn structures that allow White the full centre, less ambitious.
Alekhine's Defence (1.e4 Nf6)
Pros: Tricky and easy counterattacks, less popular, White usually overextends.
Cons: White has a big space advantage and is usually ahead in development.

Hopefully an opening choice has piqued your interest.
Resources of each can be found at the bottom of this blog in the Resource List.
Now continue to the last section - an antidote against 1.d4 - below in Section 4.

Section 4: How to face 1.d4

1.d4 is the other most popular move you must be prepared for, it occurs around 25% of the time - but becomes more popular with higher rating. At the very top level, it's 50% 1.e4 and 40% 1.d4. Anyway, this is a move which signifies patience, positional play, strategical maneuvering, and a heavy interest in pawn structures and endgames. There are 2 major ways to play against it - either by willingly entering the long strategical game, or attempting to open the game up, attempting to attack White anyway with sharp unclear positions. Both approaches are equally as good. Let's explore our three main options.

4.1) 1...d5

1...d5 the most principled way to driectly fight for the centre (stopping 2.e4). This opening usually leads to closed strategical positions with lots of piece maneuvering - concerened with pawn structures and endgames. The main opening which you will need to prepare against, is the Queen's Gambit (2.c4). Lets explore the main replies which you can choose from to fight against the Queen's Gambit.

Here are the pros and cons of each:
Queen's Gambit Declined - Traditional (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6)
Pros: Solid, resilient pawn structure, flexible piece development, safe.
Cons: Passive position, White can play the Exchange Variation.
Queen's Gambit Declined - Slav Defence (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6)
Pros: Strong pawn structure, interesting pawn breaks, strategically strong.
Cons: Requires deep strategical understanding, cramped position.
Queen's Gambit Declined - Semi-Slav (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6)
Pros: Rich middlegames, flexible, can pose tactical and strategical problems to White.
Cons: Black needs to be strong both tactically, strategically, and remember lots of theory.
Queen's Gambit Accepted (1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4)
Pros: Create imbalances to target early in the game, can become tactical.
Cons: Loses control of the centre, White develops faster than Black.

Hopefully an opening choice has piqued your interest.
Resources of each can be found at the bottom of this blog in the Resource List.
If you've fallen in love with 1...d5, then head straight to the end of Section 4.
If you don't feel like 1...d5 is for you though, then continue to Section 4.2

4.2) 1...Nf6

The other way to fight for the centre is with 1...Nf6 (stopping 2.e4). This gets Black closer to castling, but doesn't directly occupy the centre. Black would love to also play 2...d5, but White usually makes this impossible with the best move 2.c4 (because 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d5?! 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.e4 wins the centre without a fight). So what Black needs to prepare against is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 - of which there are multiple strong counterattacking approaches.

Here are the pros and cons of each:
Nimzo-Indian Defence (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4)
Pros: Balanced opening, objectively best, takes claim in the centre, flexible.
Cons: Sometimes hard to create chances, requires precise piece placement.
Queens Indian Defence (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6)
Pros: Solid, strategic counterplay, control of key squares.
Cons: Requires deep strategical understanding, possible passivity.
Grunfeld Defence (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5)
Pros: Dynamic, tricky, aggressive, sacrificial, sharp.
Cons: Lots of opening theory and precise calculation.
Kings Indian Defence (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7)
Pros: Easy kingside attack, sacrificial, flexible, fairly safe king.
Cons: Must play around White's centre and queenside, all-or-nothing opening.
Benoni (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6)
Pros: Aggressive, imbalanced, easy counter-targets in the centre.
Cons: Weak pawn structure, accurate calculation is required.
Benko Gambit (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b4)
Pros: No weaknesses, easy queenside attack, long-term attacks.
Cons: Pawn down, have to deal with White's passed a-pawn.

Hopefully an opening choice has piqued your interest.
Resources of each can be found at the bottom of this blog in the Resource List.
If you've fallen in love with 1...Nf6, then head straight to the end of Section 4.
If you don't feel like 1...Nf6 is for you though, then continue to Section 4.3

4.3) 1...Other

Then there are other, less known openings to face 1.d4. These openings are a little more risky, and aggressive - attempting to take White out of their theory, and into a sharp theoretical position. These other openings are objectively worse, and are therefore virtually never played at the top level, but are very good at the under 2000 level, as White usually doesn't know as much theory there.

Here are the pros and cons of each:
Dutch Defence (1.d4 f5)
Pros: Aggressive, asymmetrical, kingside attack, tactical, less popular.
Cons: Unsafe king, weak key squares (d5).
Old Benoni (1.d4 c5)
Pros: Tactical, trappy, less popular, flexible.
Cons: White can play 2.d5 3.Nc3 or transpose into benoni mainlines.

Hopefully an opening choice has piqued your interest.
Resources of each can be found at the bottom of this blog in the Resource List.

You should now have the start of a full repertoire - complete with an opening for White (1.e4 or 1.d4) and two Black openings prepared for both 1.e4 and 1.d4.

I hope you've enjoyed this opening guide, once again, the resource list is below to help you in your study. But remember, the best way to practice openings is to play them, and analyse your game afterwards. You will be a master of your chosen openings in no time. Or maybe you will switch! Either way, if you need any more help, check out my other blog - The Opening Anthology - or DM me :)

Good luck!